Welcome welcome, to the MINDTHEGAP
Transylvanian culinary extravaganza

You’re in for a treat for the eyes as well as the palate, as we’re here to celebrate the cuisine of Transylvania, set against a breath-taking backdrop of luxury patterned wallpaper.

Prepare to be transported through taste, tradition and design, as every mouth-watering serving is steeped in history, and every wall tells a story.

So, pull up a chair, we’ll begin.

Still largely undiscovered, Transylvania’s food scene is a buzzing medley of divine, diverse delicacies that each originate from the vibrant, multi-layered history of the region. The area is known for being a melting pot of different cultures, a distinctive combination of Romanian, Hungarian and Saxon German influences, each of which brought plates of deliciousness with them on their journey through Europe and the ages.

These recipes and techniques have, over time, melded with Transylvanian culinary custom to create dishes that are truly one-of-a-kind – and coming up we’ll be sampling a few of our favourites, as well as a few decorative delights.

First up on the menu is a delicate bite of Lángos to ignite the tastebuds – don’t be fooled by its simple appearance, you’re about to step into a sensory sensation.

We’ve topped the Transylvanian take on this Hungarian deep friend flat bread with a generous dollop of sour cream, some finely grated cheese and a little garlic – we are welcoming you to the home of Count Dracula, after all – and paired it with the visual feast that is our gently geometric wallpaper Heritage.
Decorated with subtle markings a vibrant traditional palette, the pattern is as authentic to this region as stopping on the street for a portion of this popular street food is.

Smell that? It’s the starter coming out, and it can only be Gulyás –
a recipe that originated in Hungary, that you might know as Goulash.

Mmmm, wrap your fingers around the steaming bowl and breathe in that heady scent of soul-warming beef, vegetables, dumplings and… what is that? Take a look around you for a clue; we’ve complemented the stew’s aromatic seasoning with co-ordinating walls.
The rich paprika red tones of the Saxon Tapestry patterned wallpaper mimic the mood of the hearty and comforting dish, the design a full-bodied visual narrative exploring of the roots of early Germanic peoples living in Transylvania, in expressive, stylised florals and bold contrasting colours.

For our next course, you may notice we’re now surrounded by the garden-like vines, leaves, shoots and stems of our Green Sanctuary modern wallpaper, which is a nod to what’s up next.

One of the most classic combos in Transylvanian gastronomy – I give you Sarmale, plump cabbage rolls stuffed with a succulent filling of pork, rice and spices, slow cooked in fragrant tomato sauce.
A Romanian staple from around the 17th century (also sometimes found in Turkey), the Transylvanian take on it is to accompany it with a sumptuous golden mound of Mămăligă, a polenta-like cornmeal layered with lard, still-melting salty cheese, and sour cream to cut through the decadent creaminess and bring balance. This is comfort food at its finest, infused with history and great taste in equal measure.
Finish it all with a tangy, crisp cabbage salad and a final flourish of fresh herbs such as dill and parsley to bring some brightness (along with the immersive botanical wallpaper background), and let the vibrant freshness lift every mouthful – this banquet is a celebration of nature’s bounty, as rich in flavour as it is in legacy.

Back to the safety of dinner – and don’t worry, we wouldn’t dream of offering only one dessert at an event such as this!

Leading us from savoury to sweet, may I introduce the fluffy-yet-crispy pleasure that is Kaiserschmarrn. A torn pancake covered in powdered sugar and fruit compote and – for a Saxon Transylvanian twist – a sprinkling of ground walnuts, for some nutty depth.
It takes its name from Austrian Kaiser Franz Joseph I, who was a big fan of it, and as such we’ve decked the walls in the picturesque design of our unique wallpaper Galtür Of Tyrol, which is a whimsical ode to life in a picturesque mountain village the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Next up, something really special, it’s Papanasi, a deep-fried-until-it’s-golden Romanian doughnut made with a mild local cow’s cheese to give it that creamy tang – it’s usually saved for these kinds of grand occasions. It’s served with jam made from wild blueberries from the forest, and a healthy helping of sour cream.

Not what you were expecting it to look like? As a Transylvanian signature, after we’ve covered the classic hole-in-the-middle doughnut base with cream and fruit, a small doughball is popped on top, which looks like it’s floating on the toppings, or like a jaunty little crown.
Symbolically the rounded golden top can be said to represent the sun, so to go hand in hand with this cheery confection we’ve chosen our joyfully colourful wallpaper Mirage, which depicts a characterful sun overlooking whimsical meadows, grazing horses and meandering flowers.

I hope you still have room left for a final small bite? Our last course is something of a regional icon. Drumroll please, as we proudly unveil… Kürtoskalács!

Or as its also known, Chimney Cake. A Hungarian Székely speciality first found in Transylvania in the 17th century, its recognisable hollow spiral shape is made by grilling pastry over an open flame, before rolling it in toppings – here we’ve made you a mixture of cinnamon sugar, crushed walnut and grated chocolate-coated.
Our designer wallpaper Chimney Cake is inspired by the dessert, which its creator British interior designer Minnie Kemp discovered the same way many of us do – by eating at the side of a Transylvanian road from a simple food stall. Honouring the beauty of craft, the wallpaper’s charismatic pattern is traditionally hand carved into wood before being expertly printed.

And thus, our time together sadly draws to an end, but what an (extremely filling) symphony of flavour and homage to beauty it’s been. From the opening bite to the last indulgence, we've journeyed through Transylvania’s beautiful culinary and artistic heritage, where every dish and design narrates a tale.

As you step away, may the tastes linger on your palate and the patterns in your memory, a reminder that true craft – whether on the plate, or the wall – is always worth savouring.